US releases orders to seize Grace 1 Iran tanker

The United States isn’t satisfied with Gibraltar’s decision of releasing the Grace 1 oil tanker by Iran, that’s why its justice department has released the warrants to re-seize the tanker. Iranian supertanker was transferring 2.1m barrels of oil to Syria’s refinery when it held by Gibraltar on charges of illegal transportation.

After Iran acceptance that it will send the oil to Syria, A Gibraltar judge order the release of the detained oil tanker. US last-minute request to keep the tanker under custody also dismissed by Gibraltar. Earlier, Iran called the tanker detention an illegal seizure. It also detained a British-flagged tanker in retaliation on accusations of violating international maritime regulations.

United States Federal court has issued warrants for the seizure of oil and tanker. The court has also called for the seizure of $995,000 from the account of Paradise Global Trading LLC. It is a registered Iranian company in the USA. It also accused the Iranian ship and its company for involving in money laundering and bank fraud. The ship may possibly associate with Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to whom Washington considered as terrorists. The US decision is really a big deal in context to persuade another court to take its decision of releasing the tanker back.